Volkswagen ID.X Performance - finally a fast electric VW

Volkswagen, known for its iconic Beetles and Vans, has now fully committed to the electric future, presenting an avant-garde glimpse of it at the ID. Treffen in Locarno. Enter the ID.X Performance, an all-electric sports sedan aiming to redefine the boundaries of style, performance, and innovation.

The ID.X Performance is not your typical sedan. Sporting a dynamic look with pronounced sporty features, the car effortlessly combines athleticism and elegance. Volkswagen engineers have enhanced the vehicle's aesthetics and aerodynamics with carbon components such as the front splitter, rear diffuser, and rear wing, ensuring optimal downforce.

Further underscoring its sporty nature, the vehicle boasts 20-inch sports alloy wheels wrapped in 265-sized racing tires. To complement its exteriors, the ID.X Performance comes with tinted taillights, adding to its aggressive, yet sophisticated aura. That big rear wing? The jury is out on this one - the ID. X Performance looks equally good with it as it does without.

Step inside, and you're greeted by carbon bucket seats, designed to offer the utmost support, especially when you decide to plant your right foot a little bit harder. Red accents elegantly strewn across the interior amplify the sporty vibes, ensuring that the inside matches the thrilling exterior.

But, a sports sedan isn’t all about looks. Under that reworked body, the ID.X Performance hides a substantial dual-motor drive, putting out a whopping 558 PS (411 kW). It seamlessly integrates a permanently excited synchronous motor on its rear axle with an asynchronous motor on the front, creating a captivating all-wheel drive. This combination is perfect for short bursts of power, aptly called the boost function.

To manage this potent force, the sedan comes equipped with a Vehicle Dynamics Manager that also controls the rear axle differential lock. All these controls can be managed using a centrally located 17-cm display.

And for those wondering about the juice that powers this beast, the dual-motor drive derives its energy from the same 84.8 kW battery pack that powers the more civilian ID.7 AWD. That battery supports up to 200 kW DC charging, provided you can find a suitable charger.

To mark its debut, the ID.X Performance was showcased at the international ID. Treffen in Locarno from September 5-9. This event saw electric vehicle aficionados converge on the Swiss side of Lago Maggiore and was reported to have broken previous attendance records, with more than 130 vehicles on display. Volkswagen's team shared insights into the brand’s electric ventures, ensuring visitors had their fill of e-mobility knowledge.

Before you start digging deep into your pockets, it’s essential to note that the ID.X Performance is a show car. However, the all-new ID.7 went on sale in Germany and is expected to reach North American shores next year, with its pricing details still under wraps. In Europe it starts from $66,800 - that’s for the 77 kW 286 hp RWD model.

The ID.X Performance is the clearest preview of the upcoming ID.7 GTX which VW has been teasing already for quite a while. While the production GTX will most likely skip the flamboyant rear wing and oversized wheel arches for more of a “sleeper” look, the powertrain is the nugget in this announcement. This is the dual-motor setup that will power the fastest electric VW yet and honestly - we can’t wait to see it.

Volkswagen’s modular electric drive platform, known as MEB, forms the foundation of the ID.X Performance. Although VW claims that this platform showcases the brand's dedication and potential in electric vehicle development, offering unparalleled creative flexibility - it is already outdated. The just-revealed VW ID. GTI is ushering in a completely new EV platform making the ID.7 and its GTX version probably a single-generation vehicle, with the electric Passat to take the reins back before 2030. Regardless - a 558 PS electric VW gets a nod of approval in our books.

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